One of the Southeast's largest and most popular public recreation lakes, Lake Hartwell was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1955 and 1963 as part of a flood control and hydropower project. The nearly 56,000 acres of water provide many recreation opportunities. There are numerous natural sand beaches along the 962-mile shoreline in addition to campgrounds, recreation areas and boat access areas. Hartwell borders Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah, Tugaloo and Seneca Rivers.